Torridge

Torridge's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, work life and religion.

The population reached nearly 64,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Torridge increased by 8.3%, from just under 59,000 to 63,800.

The addition of just under 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torridge was home to, on average, 0.46 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South West's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Torridge

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Torridge increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This agricultural area had the third-highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 16% of people in Torridge are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Torridge

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Torridge, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Torridge, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Torridge fell from 57% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Torridge residents that were unemployed decreased from 3.7% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage of Torridge residents that were self-employed increased from 15% to 16%.

The proportion of unemployed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Torridge

Torridge saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Torridge reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.3%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 6.5% to 7.5%) and Teignbridge (from 7.3% to 8.0%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, Torridge overtook 12 local authority areas, including Tewkesbury and Somerset West and Taunton, to become the South West local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Torridge working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Torridge decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torridge, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Torridge saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households in Torridge had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.1% to 9.2%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 27% to 34%) and South Hams (from 28% to 31%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of one-person households.

During this period, Torridge went from having the 20th-highest to the 15th-lowest percentage of one-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Torridge

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 30% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Torridge.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Torridge that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 45,000 in 2001 to about 40,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 4,800 to about 5,500 (from 8.1% to 8.6%).

About 420 people (0.4%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 240 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population without a religion in Torridge increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Torridge

In 2011, 99% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Torridge.

Across the South West, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 98% to 95%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Torridge from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 250 in 2001 to about 430 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.7%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 220 to about 270. Both of these figures represented about 0.4% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 67 people (0.1%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 51 in 2001 (0.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Torridge remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Torridge residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.6% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Torridge residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Torridge decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torridge, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Torridge, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Torridge, the proportion of private renting increased from 14% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Torridge fell from 9.6% to 9.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 71%.

Private renting in Torridge increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Torridge, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in Torridge without children increased from 65% to 67% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in Torridge with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.7% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households without children increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 64% in 2001 to 65% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Torridge residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Torridge remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Torridge by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links